The Division of Humanities and the Language Program conducted a public lecture series on World Englishes on May 19, 2023, at the UPV MILC, UP Visayas, Miagao, Iloilo. Titled “Transforming Humanities Education - The API Lecture Series on Language, Culture, and Discourse,” the activity featured three lectures by faculty members from the Ateneo de Manila University and the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
The first lecture on Interrogating World Englishes, was presented by Dr. Daniel R. Davis from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, and a Senior Fulbright Scholar at the Ateneo de Manila University delivered a lecture. Dr. Davis discussed in his lecture the need for everyone to understand and appreciate the functional range of the English language, which goes beyond learning the American culture.
The second lecture by Dr. Priscilla Angela T. Cruz of the Ateneo de Manila University was about Positive Discourse Analysis and New Directions in Researching Language and Literature. Dr. Cruz stressed in her lecture that language is everyone’s meaning potential and that meaning is created or formed through language.
Dr. Marianne Rachel G. Perfecto of the Ateneo de Manila University delivered the last lecture on Intercultural Communicative Competence in the Era of Globalization. Dr. Perfecto emphasized the need to put language and communication within a given cultural context.
Participants included students and faculty members from the University of the Philippines Visayas as well as Senior High School students and faculty members from several secondary schools in Miagao, Iloilo - Kirayan National High School, San Rafael National High School, Palaca-Damilisan National High School, Alejandro Firmeza Memorial National High School, and Miagao National High School.
The lectures will be eventually converted into interactive learning materials. The entire project is funded through the Academic Program Improvement under the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
